Nelvana announces two major partnerships

Canadian animation company Nelvana has announced two major partnerships over the last week that’ll see the company work with others around the world.

Firstly, the studio has agreed to launch a Chinese animator incubation programme with distribution company WeKids and animation software ToonBoom.

The three will aim to discover new talent and cutting-edge concepts out of China that have the creative potential to be developed into globally successful properties.

The winner will receive a development deal. The incubation programme will start accepting submissions in January 2018.

Nelvana has also partnered with Discovery Communications to launch a new joint-venture aimed at the Latin American, Canadian and international markets.

Though the new company will be based in Canada, but it will operate independently of Nelvana and Discovery. The business will be dedicated to the production of premium children’s content across linear and digital platforms.

The venture will acquire intellectual property rights to agreed brands, characters, and concepts from Nelvana and Discovery for development and production for the global kids’ market.

The hope is that the new partnership will create content for Discovery Kids in Latin America and the various Canadian children’s channels operated by Nelvana’s parent company, Corus Entertainment.

Earlier in the month, Nelvana announced a deal with FremantleMedia to help promote Mysticons, The ZhusZhus, Ranger Rob and Max & Ruby in the United Kingdom.

The expansion of Nelvana’s production capabilities is a major initiative for Corus Entertainment. The company hopes to one day be able to get studio creating theatrical features again.